If these exit poll numbers turn out to be correct, it is a great day for Conservatives.
Mitt will have stuck a fork in McCain and popped the "INevitable nominee" Balloon. Mitt by 5 or greater will result in McCain cratering in South Carolina -- he only has more than 20% there because he was the "electable" front-runner. He MUST finish 1st or 2nd in SC or he will completely dissappear on Super Tuesday.
This now makes 4th-4th-3rd for Huck in 3 states where he campaigned hard, add to that he is out of money and he is finished. His numbers are already tanking in South Carolina and Nevada, and he does not have the assets to fight back now. he may stick it out through the weekend, but he MUST now finish 1st or 2nd in SC.
The Big Winners today are:
Romney -- now a second win -- he moves into Front Runner status and will probably win Nevada. As long as he does not flop to 4th in SC he carries the Front Runner into Super tuesday.
FRED - he is surging in SC, and with McCain now reeling, Fred can up the pressure on him. Fred is in prime position to now win South Carolina and move into Super tuesday in control of the entire South. And Contrary to popular belief, word is Fred has a good amount of cash stashed for ad buys.
RUDY - Rudy now suddenly is back in the race. All the mushy moderates that were enamoured by Huckster and McCain now will take a second look at Rudy. He will be a force in the more liberal states on super Tuesday.
Super Tuesday could turn into a Mitt-Rudy battle in the NE/Rust belt/California while Fred rolls through the South.
That should have been 4th-3rd in TWO states.... he finished 4th in Wyoming but did not campaign there.
bttt
Sounds like fun!!
I like your analysis.